179 Flora River

10.12 Flora River

10.12.1 Flora River and Hayward Creek

Sub-section 17 encompasses the Flora River and it’s tributary, Hayward Creek (excluding Mathison Creek catchment area). Five sites were fully assessed in this sub-section. One of these sites is located on Hayward Creek, whilst the remaining sites are on Flora River (refer Table 10.40 and Map 47).

Table 10.40 Summary of Survey Information for Sub-section 17 – Flora River and Hayward Creek Site Tributary Name Sample Habitat Cross- Vegetation Photographic Number Point Type Section Profile Site Letter Survey

A Cascade √ 1 Flora River √ B Pool √ A Pool √ 2 Flora River √ B Waterfall √ A Riffle √ 5 Flora River √ B Pool √ A Riffle √ 6 Flora River B Pool √ A Riffle √ 8 Hayward Creek B Pool √

Tufa cascade on lower Flora River

Top End Waterways Project DALY RIVER CATCHMENT

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FLORA RIVER - SITE 17/1 (27.5.96) CROSS-SECTION A - WATERFALL/CASCADE

6 High Bank Water Mark Water Level

5

4

3

2 Bank Height (m)

1

Water Mark Level 0

-1 Rock outcrops: Bed

Depth (m) -2 -20 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200 220 240 260 Distance (m)

FLORA RIVER - SITE 17/1 (27.5.96) CROSS-SECTION B - POOL

6 High Bank Water Mark Water Level

4 Bank Height (m)

2

Water Mark Level 0

-2

-4

-6 Depth (m)

-8

-10

-12 Rock outcrops: None -14 -10 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 Distance (m)

Figure 10.107 Cross-section Surveys for Site 17/1 – Flora River

Top End Waterways Project DALY RIVER CATCHMENT 182 Flora River

FLORA RIVER - SITE 17/2 (28.5.96) CROSS-SECTION A - POOL

4 High Bank Water Mark Water Level

3

2 Bank Height (m)

1

Water Mark Level 0

-1

-2 Depth (m)

-3 Rock outcrops: Bed -4 -20 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 Distance (m)

FLORA RIVER - SITE 17/2 (28.5.96) CROSS-SECTION B - WATERFALL

4 High Bank Water Mark Water Level 3.5

3

2.5

2

Bank Height (m) 1.5

1

0.5

Water Mark Level 0

-0.5

-1 Rock outcrops: Bed ,left & right Depth (m) -1.5 lower banks -2 -20 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 Distance (m)

Figure 10.108 Cross-section Surveys for Site 17/2 – Flora River

Top End Waterways Project DALY RIVER CATCHMENT 183 Flora River

FLORA RIVER - SITE 17/5 (20.9.95) CROSS-SECTION A - RIFFLE

4 High Bank Water Mark Water Level 3.5

3

2.5

2

Bank Height (m) 1.5

1

0.5

Water Mark Level 0

-0.5

-1 Rock outcrops: Bed, left & right Depth (m) -1.5 lower bank, left & right upper bank -2 -10-50 5 10152025303540455055606570 Distance (m)

FLORA RIVER - SITE 17/5 (20.9.95) CROSS-SECTION B - POOL

4 High Bank Water Mark Water Level 3.5

3

2.5

2

Bank Height (m) 1.5

1

0.5

Water Mark Level 0

-0.5

-1

Depth (m) -1.5 Rock outcrops: Bed -2 -5 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 Distance (m)

Figure 10.109 Cross-section Surveys for Site 17/5 – Flora River

Top End Waterways Project DALY RIVER CATCHMENT 184 Flora River

FLORA RIVER - SITE 17/6 (21.9.95) CROSS-SECTION A - RIFFLE

4 High Bank Water Mark Water Level 3.5

3

2.5

2

Bank Height (m) 1.5

1

0.5

Water Mark Level 0

-0.5

-1

Depth (m) -1.5 Rock outcrops: Bed -2 -20 2 4 6 8 101214161820 Distance (m)

FLORA RIVER - SITE 17/6 (21.9.95) CROSS-SECTION B - POOL

4 High Bank Water Mark Water Level 3.5

3

2.5

2

Bank Height (m) 1.5

1

0.5

Water Mark Level 0

-0.5

-1

Depth (m) -1.5 Rock outcrops: Bed -2 -20 2 4 6 8 101214161820 Distance (m)

Figure 10.110 Cross-section surveys for Site 17/6 – Flora River

Top End Waterways Project DALY RIVER CATCHMENT 185 Flora River

HAYWARD CREEK - SITE 17/8 (20.9.95) CROSS-SECTION A - RIFFLE

8 High Bank Water Mark Water Level

7 Note: Bed Dry at Sampling Time 6

5

4

Bank Height (m) 3

2

1

Water Mark Level 0

-1 Rock outcrops: Bed, right lower & upper banks Depth (m) -2 -5 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 Distance (m)

HAYWARD CREEK - SITE 17/8 (20.9.95) CROSS-SECTION B - POOL

8 High Bank Water Mark Water Level

7 Note: Bed Dry at Sampling Time 6

5

Bank Height (m) 4

3

2 Water Mark Level 1

0

Depth (m) -1 Rock outcrops: Bed -2 -5 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 Distance (m)

Figure 10.111 Cross-section Surveys for Site 17/8 – Hayward Creek

Top End Waterways Project DALY RIVER CATCHMENT 186 Flora River

Top End Waterways Project DALY RIVER CATCHMENT 187 Flora River

Top End Waterways Project DALY RIVER CATCHMENT 188 Flora River

Top End Waterways Project DALY RIVER CATCHMENT 189 Flora River

Table 10.41 Major Vegetation Species Recorded at Sites 6 and 8 on Flora River and Hayward Creek, respectively, located within Sub-section 17 Plant Name – Genus species Structural Type Exotic (E) / Sites Where Recorded Noxious (N)* (Sub-section No. / Site No.)

Acacia holosericea Low tree / shrub 17/6 Arundinella nepalensis Grass 17/6 Casuarina cunninghamiana Tree 17/8 Chara sp. Forb 17/6 Crotolaria sp. Low tree / shrub 17/6 Dodonaea platyptera Low tree / shrub 17/6 Eleocharis geniculata Forb 17/6 Eucalyptus papuana Tree 17/6 Excoecaria parvifolia Tree 17/8 Hyptis suaveolens Forb E/N 17/8 Lophostemon grandiflorus Tree 17/6, 17/8 Melaleuca argentea Tree 17/8 Melaleuca leucadendra Tree 17/6, 17/8 Nauclea orientalis Tree 17/6 Nelsonia campestris Forb 17/6 Nitella sp. Forb 17/6 Pandanus aquaticus Tree 17/6 Paspalum scrobiculatum Grass 17/6 Passiflora foetida Vine E 17/6, 17/8 Terminalia platyphylla Tree 17/6 Timonius timon Tree 17/6 * Declared Noxious Weed within the Northern Territory

Top End Waterways Project DALY RIVER CATCHMENT 190 Flora River

View along reach on lower Flora River (Site 17/1)

Tufa waterfalls at Kathleen Falls on Flora River Riffle on upper Flora River at Site 17/6

Cascade at Florence Falls on Flora River (Site 17/2)

Reach on upper Flora River at Site 17/5 Reach on Hayward Creek at Site 17/8

Top End Waterways Project DALY RIVER CATCHMENT 191 Flora River

10.12.2 Mathison and Aroona Creeks

Sub-section 18 includes the catchment of Mathison and Aroona Creeks. Three sites were fully assessed in this sub-section (refer Table 10.42 and Map 48).

Table 10.42 Summary of Survey Information for Sub-section 18 – Mathison and Aroona Creeks Site Tributary Name Sample Habitat Cross- Vegetation Photographic Number Point Type Section Profile Site Letter Survey

A Riffle √ 2 Mathison Creek √ B Pool √ A Pool √ 3 Mathison Creek B Riffle √ A Pool √ 5 Aroona Creek B Riffle √

Reach on Mathison Creek at Site 18/2

Top End Waterways Project DALY RIVER CATCHMENT w—thison2greek

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„y€2ixh2‡e„i‚‡e‰ƒ2€‚ytig„ viqixh hev‰2‚s†i‚2ge„grwix„ 5 S ƒite 6„ ƒ—mple2€oint @†€A †eget—tion2€rofile we„rsƒyx28 vongitudin—l2€rofile e‚yyxe2g‚iiuƒ ƒurvey ‚iver ƒ fEƒig„syx2IV greek vyge„syx2yp2ƒ fEƒig„syx ± plow2dire™tion w—p2RV 193 Flora River

MATHISON CREEK - SITE 18/2 (29.8.96) CROSS-SECTION A - RIFFLE

6 High Bank Water Mark Water Level

Note: Bed Dry at 5 Sampling Date

4

3

Bank Height (m) 2

1

Water Mark Level 0

-1 Rock outcrops: None Depth (m) -2 -5 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 Distance (m)

MATHISON CREEK - SITE 18/2 (29.8.96) CROSS-SECTION B - POOL

6 High Bank Water Mark Water Level

Note: Bed Dry at 5 Sampling Date

4

3

Bank Height (m) 2

1

Water Mark Level 0

-1 Rock outcrops: None Depth (m) -2 -5 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 Distance (m)

Figure 10.115 Cross-section Surveys for Site 18/2 – Mathison Creek

Top End Waterways Project DALY RIVER CATCHMENT 194 Flora River

MATHISON CREEK - SITE 18/3 (30.8.96) CROSS-SECTION A - POOL

3 High Bank Water Mark Water Level

2.5 Note: Bed Dry at Sampling Date

2

1.5

Bank Height (m) 1

0.5

Water Mark Level 0

-0.5 Rock outcrops: Bed Depth (m) -1 -2 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 Distance (m)

MATHISON CREEK - SITE 18/3 (30.8.96) CROSS-SECTION B - RIFFLE

1 High Bank Water Mark Water Level

0.8 Note: Bed Dry at Sampling Date 0.6

Bank Height (m) 0.4

0.2

Water Mark Level 0

-0.2

-0.4

Depth (m) -0.6

-0.8 Rock outcrops: Bed -1 -5 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 Distance (m)

Figure 10.116 Cross-section Surveys for Site 18/3 – Mathison Creek

Top End Waterways Project DALY RIVER CATCHMENT 195 Flora River

AROONA CREEK - SITE 18/5 (30.8.96) CROSS-SECTION A - POOL

4 High Bank Water Mark Water Level 3.5 Note: Bed Dry at 3 Sampling Time

2.5

2

Bank Height (m) 1.5

1

0.5

Water Mark Level 0

-0.5

-1

Depth (m) -1.5 Rock outcrops: None -2 -2 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 Distance (m)

AROONA CREEK - SITE 18/5 (30.8.96) CROSS-SECTION B - RIFFLE

4 High Bank Water Mark Water Level 3.5 Note: Bed Dry at 3 Sampling Time

2.5

2

Bank Height (m) 1.5

1

0.5

Water Mark Level 0

-0.5

-1

Depth (m) -1.5 Rock outcrops: None -2 -5 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 Distance (m)

Figure 10.117 Cross-section Surveys for Site 18/5 – Aroona Creek

Top End Waterways Project DALY RIVER CATCHMENT 196 Flora River

Top End Waterways Project DALY RIVER CATCHMENT 197 Flora River

Table 10.43 Major Vegetation Species Recorded at Sites 3 and 5 on Mathison and Aroona Creeks, respectively, located within Sub-section 18 Plant Name – Genus species Structural Type Exotic (E) / Sites Where Recorded Noxious (N)* (Sub-section No. / Site No.)

Acacia holosericea Low tree / shrub 18/3 Aristida pruinosa Grass 18/3 Brachiaria piligera Grass 18/5 Brachyachne convergens Grass 18/5 Calytrix exstipulata Low tree / shrub 18/3 Chrysopogon fallax Grass 18/3, 18/5 Cyperus holoschoenus Forb 18/3 Dodonaea platyptera Low tree / shrub 18/3 Echinochloa colona Grass E 18/5 Eucalyptus camaldulensis Tree 18/3, 18/5 Eucalyptus tectifica Tree 18/3 Excoecaria parvifolia Tree 18/5 Fimbristylis littoralis Forb 18/3 Flacourtia territorialis Low tree / shrub 18/3 Heteropogon contortus Grass 18/3, 18/5 Hyptis suaveolens Forb E/N 18/3 Indigofera linifolia Forb 18/5 Jatropha gossypiifolia Low tree /shrub E/N 18/5 Lophostemon grandiflorus Tree 18/3, 18/5 Lysiphyllum cunninghamii Tree 18/3, 18/5 Melaleuca leucadendra Tree 18/5 Melaleuca viridiflora Low tree / shrub 18/3 Mnesithea rottboellioides Grass 18/5 Panicum mindanaense Grass 18/3 Parkinsonia aculeata Low tree / shrub E/N 18/5 Sesbania cannabina Forb 18/5 Strychnos lucida Tree 18/3 Terminalia platyphylla Tree 18/3, 18/5 * Declared Noxious Weed within the Northern Territory

Top End Waterways Project DALY RIVER CATCHMENT 198 Flora River

View along reach on Mathison Creek at Site 18/3 Reach along Aroona Creek at Site 18/5

Measuring bank height on Mathison Creek (Site 18/2) An eroding bank along Aroona Creek (Site 18/5)

Top End Waterways Project DALY RIVER CATCHMENT